Magistrate Queries Reich on Grynszpan’s Record

December 25, 1938

PARIS (Dec. 23)

The examining magistrate in the Herschel Grynszpan case, utilizing the holiday adjournment, has addressed an official inquiry to the German Government about the Polish Jewish youth’s record and that of his parents while living in the Reich. a similar inquiry was sent to the polish Government despite the fact that Grynszpan’s parents had been in Germany since 1911 until they were expelled in October. In his inquiry to Berlin, the magistrate expressed particular interest in Grynszpan’s school record.

Lawyers for Grynszpan, who fatally wounded a German Embassy official, touching off the wave of anti-Jewish excesses in Germany, welcomed the news from Washington that Homer S. Cummings, retiring Attorney General, was considering joining the Polish youth’s defense counsel. Henri Torres, one of Grynszpan’s attorneys, told the J.T.A. that he would be “glad to have Mr. Cummings among us.” Similar comments were made by other of the counsel, who are aware of the negotiations being conducted with the Attorney General. Mr. Cummings will be a great asset to the defense in this cause celebre, the lawyers said, although he cannot participate in the trial officially since he is not a French citizen.